Here we are back in Tartu after an amazing week (for us) in Sweden. Our great friends, Matts & Inga and Kairi had invited us to share their winter skiing holiday in the mountains of central Sweden close to the boarder with Norway. Yet another new and fascinating experience for us in this year of surprises. Our cottage for the week was in a small mountain area known as Sälen which is about 390 kms north west of Stockholm. As you can see from the attached picture it was hard to see as it was buried in more than 2 meters of snow. Fortunately someone had cut a path to the front door through the snow so we could get access.It was truly a beautiful sight, house roofs covered in a meter of snow, trees looking more like statues shrouded in snow, and to cap it all off, brilliant sunshine on most days. In the sunshine the white of the snow was almost blinding making it difficult to distinguish where the ground was and where the road or path was going. Amazing.

The trench into the front door

The cottage

The path lighting just clearing the snow

During our week there Sweden holds a very big event known as  "Vasaloppet". This is a series of cross country ski races which attracts a total number of around 60,000 contestants from all over the world, including Australia. The program consists of 4 ninety kilometre races, one held at night commencing at 8 pm, 1 ninety kilometre team race, 2 thirty kilometre races ( one for women only ) and a forty five kilometre race. On the final day there is the 90 km race open to all but also with an elite field of skiers as well. Its hard to believe but in that race alone there were 15,000 starters!!! Its a huge event and it takes more than half an hour for all competitors to get through the start line. Even in the night race some 3000 people participated, some of whom were in their 70,s and 80,s. It's amazing sight. The 90Kms can take the professionals around 4 hours and the ordinary mums and dads and young people up to 10 hours. Its a gruelling up hill and down hill course, and as we went and watched them on the track one wonders how they keep up the effort over such a long time and distance. Our friends Inga and Kairi both participated in the 30km race getting in just under 3 hours. Some years before they  both did the 90 km race as well. If you check on Youtube I'm sure there would be videos of the race, especially the start. Well, we tried a bit of cross country skiing, our first ever time with skis on our feet, and found it hard but enjoyable...not sure about 90 kms though!!

Inga & Kairi after 30 Kms,

Here skiers in the 90 km race enjoy a little down hill slope.

While we were there we were taken for a trip into Norway, a country we have never visited before. The mountains were higher and much snow. Beautiful scenery and we visited a popular ski resort, mainly for down hill skiing. It was great to watch the hundreds of people and families enjoying skiing together, including tiny little children who just about grow up with skis on their feet. It was not uncommon to see little ones maybe 2 years old skiing down the slopes with their parents....sometimes attached to mum or dad with a short rope lead to 

prevent them from "escaping". Skiing is a huge industry and pastime in these countries and is quite expensive as well. The cost doesn't stop folks from being involved...they just budget for it as part of normal life. Well, it was some week and to add to it we were told that they have not had this much snow and so good conditions since sometime in the 1970,s, so we felt pretty privileged to have experienced it all. Before we left Kairi took us by snowmobile high up above the treeline where the landscape looked a bit like being on the moon except everything was snow covered. Here it was very cold and we could only stay for an hour before returning to base for 'finger therapy'

Now it is only 17 days before we leave Estonia for home. It is hard for us to believe that a year has passed and hard for us to face all the goodbyes to family and friends here. In addition there are lots of things to do like cancelling phone accounts, bank accounts, health benefits and other such administrative things. Then there is the apartment and the dreaded packing for the journey home. It will be a busy and emotional 17 days and then the joy of returning to our own country and people (and sunshine). This will most likely be my last blog from Estonia but when I return I will take time to write maybe one more as we reflect on the whole impact of this year. Certainly it has been an experience never to be forgotten and we are both sure that our lives will not be unchanged by our time spent here, but that will have to wait till we have a bit more time to reflect. Now we can truly say...."we will see you all soon" and whatever the strains of leaving here might be they are certainly matched by our anticipation of being with you all, our friends and family, again. Keep the sun shining for us please.